Game and game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game method wherein values of same-suited cards are aggregated to determine a hand value. A player and/or dealer holding a highest hand value is declared the winner. The game method may be used with dealing and wagering rules associated with known games of chance. For example, a Hold&#39;em game may be played in a traditional manner except that the winner is determined by aggregating hand values for each player holding three or more same-suited cards with the winner holding the hand with the highest valued hand. Blackjack or Baccarat scoring systems may be used to determine hand values.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/571,237 filed Mar. 8, 2006, which is a national stage filingunder 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application PCT/AU2004/001219 filedon Sep. 9, 2004 which claims priority from AU Provisional ApplicationNo. 2003 904910 filed Sep. 9, 2003 and AU Application No. 2004 901035filed Mar. 2, 2004. The entire teachings of the referenced applicationsare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of games, card games,wagering card games and electronic games, especially casino wageringgames.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, theword “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, willbe understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group ofintegers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group ofintegers.

BACKGROUND

As a leisure time activity poker and other card games have been popularfor many years. The capital requirements for playing poker and othertable card games are very low. All that are needed are one or more decksof cards, a playing surface and a few participants. Five card poker is agame that most people know how to play and many games have beendeveloped using the same basic priority or rank order of winning pokerhands: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a kind, Full House,Straight, Three of a kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card (s) inhand.

For some time, it had been difficult to adapt the rules of poker into acasino table game in which each player plays against the house, ratherthan against other players. Although club-type games with playerswagering against each other have been popular, it was desirable for agame to be played where the house received a more direct payback fromthe game. In a conventional poker game, a number of players (greaterthan one) are each dealt a poker hand by one player (or the house dealerwho does not play in the game) who acts as the dealer. The player withthe highest ranking hand based on the established priority ranking ofpoker hands wins. Each player in turn deals a hand as the gamecontinues. It is usually essential to have wagering steps in the game tomaintain the interest and excitement of the game. In the absence ofwagering, there is little to commend the play of poker.

Many places, both within and without Australia, have legalized gaming.Poker is one of the games of chance offered in both casinos and gamingvenues. In a conventional house poker game, the house provides a dealer,the playing cards, the table and chairs, but the house does not play ahand. The house collects a nominal percentage of each players bet (housepercentage) that compensates the house for providing the facilities tothe players. Alternatively, the house may charge each player a setamount per hand or for a specified length of time of play. Each playeris competing not against the house, but against all the other playerswith the highest hand winning the total of all the wagers made on thathand.

Many people do not like to play house poker because each player iscompeting against his fellow players, not against the house. Many peoplewould rather attempt to win money from an impersonal source, the houseor the casino, rather than from their fellow players with whom they maybe acquainted. House poker also tends to not offer any bonus paymentsfor particularly good hands, although bonuses are sometimes paid forhighest hands in tournaments or for specific combinations of hands atpoker tables (e.g., a losing hand of at least a full house).

While a Royal Flush is a rare occurrence and generates a thrill for anypoker player, the player collects the same total wager that he wouldhave collected if the hand was won with a Three of a Kind.

In the past fifteen years, a number of card games have been introducedto provide poker type card games as house-banked casino table games.These games have focused on a number of elements in providing excitementand staying power for the games. The games must be quickly understood byplayers.

The rules must be simple and clear. The resolution of wagers by thedealer must be easily accomplished. The reading of hands by a dealermust not be complex.

In addition, the games must provide a high enough win frequency toappeal to players, yet allow the house to retain a profitable portion ofthe wagers. These needs have limited the number of successful games thathave been designed and successfully introduced into the casino gamingmarket.

Among the successful games are Let It Ride Bonus. RTM. Poker, Three CardPoker. RTM. Game and Caribbean Stud. RTM. Poker. These games have eachachieved a level of commercial success with different formats andattributes.

In Caribbean Stud. RTM. Poker, a player makes an initial ante wager, andfive cards are dealt to each player and to a dealer. The dealer exposesone of the five cards to influence the player. The player decides if thedealt player hand is of sufficient rank to compete against the dealer'shand. The player may fold the player's hand at that time, or continuethe game by placing an additional wager (referred to as the “Bet”) thatis usually required to be twice the value of the ante.

The dealer's hand qualities for active play against the bet with a rankof at least Ace-King. If the dealer qualifies, the rank of the player'shands are compared with the rank of the dealer's hand. Players withhands of higher rank than the dealer's hand win both the ante and thebet. Players with hands of lower rank than the dealers hand lose boththe ante and the bet. If an initial side bet (often referred to as thejackpot side bet) has been made by the player, ranked hands ofparticularly high values (eg, at least a flush) are paid absolute bonusamounts or may be paid out of a progressive jackpot. This bonus side betis paid whether or not the player's hand rank exceeds the rank of thedealer's hand.

Problems with most poker games and especially the above mentioned, occurfor the player in the wagering structure whereby players have to placean ante wager and then must place additional wagers at multiple odds tocontinue to participate in the game.

With the above games, players do have the option to fold their hand andforfeit their ante wager. These games have a fold rate of in excess of21%. This can make games unattractive to the recreational player as theplayer will become bored. The player normally folds early in the game,leaving the player lengthy periods of downtime before the commencementof the next game.

It is always desirable to explore alternative games for play in thefield of gaming tables to provide players with varied experiences andalternatives to known games.

Disclosure of the Invention One variation of the present inventionrelates to a card game that can be played in a casino or in a gamingvenue. More particularly, it relates to a hybrid version of a pokergame.

According to one aspect the invention resides in a game comprising a setof tokens, said set comprising a first number of sub-sets, each sub-sethaving an equal second number of tokens, each sub-set of tokens having ahierarchical ranking from a lowest value to an upper most value, saidgame comprising a dealer and at least one player, the game comprisingthe dealer delivering to each player a collection of tokens comprising athird number of tokens, each player assessing the collection of tokensand declaring the status of the collection as a winning group, where awinning group comprises a selection of tokens which conform to apre-determined set of tokens, each player discarding some of the tokensto hold a fourth number of tokens, said fourth number being less thanthe first number, the dealer delivering a final token from the remainderof the set of tokens, the final token being compared with the fourthnumber of tokens held by each player wherein the player is determined ashaving won or lost as a result of said comparison.

According to a further aspect the invention resides in a game apparatusfor playing a game which uses a set of tokens, said set comprising afirst number of sub-sets, each sub-set having an equal second number oftokens, each sub-set of tokens having a hierarchical ranking from alowest value to an upper most value, said game comprising a dealer andat least one player, the game comprising the dealer delivering to eachplayer a collection of tokens comprising a third number of tokens, eachplayer assessing the collection of tokens and declaring the status ofthe collection as a winning group, where a winning group comprises aselection of tokens which conform to a predetermined set of tokens, eachplayer discarding some of the tokens to hold a fourth number of tokens,said fourth number being less than the first number, the dealerdelivering a final token from the remainder of the set of tokens, thefinal token being compared with the fourth number of tokens held by eachplayer wherein the player is determined as having won or lost as aresult of said comparison, wherein the game apparatus comprises a playerdisplay adapted to provide a display representative of the collection oftokens delivered to the player by the dealer and the final token, theapparatus further comprising a player control means which is adapted tobe operated by a player and a dealer control means adapted to becontrolled by a dealer and which provides the display at the playerdisplay representative of the collection of tokens and of the finaltoken and the player control adapted to enable the player to discard therepresentation of some of the tokens displayed to retain the fourthnumber of tokens.

According to preferred feature of the invention the player makes a wagerprior to the delivery of the collection of tokens and the player is paidout on winning the game. According to preferred feature of the inventionadditional wagers can be placed by a player at differing stages of thegame. According to preferred feature of the invention an additionalwager can be placed by a player after discarding tokens to establish thefourth number of tokens.

According to preferred feature of the invention the selection of tokenswhich conform to a pre-determined set of tokens comprise a number ofselections of tokens and the selections are given a ranking according tothe nature of the subsets to which each token belongs and the hierarchyof the tokens contained in the sub-set. According to preferred featureof the invention on a player having a winning hand on delivery of thecollection of tokens, the player is paid out by the dealer in accordancewith the ranking of the winning hand. According to preferred feature ofthe invention on a player having a winning hand on receipt of thecollection of tokens, the player is able to continue with the game.According to preferred feature of the invention on continuing with thegame the player is able to submit an additional wager. According to analternative preferred feature of the invention on a player having awinning hand on receipt of the collection of tokens, the player iswithdrawn from the game.

According to preferred feature of the invention the comparison with thefinal token is conducted in relation to conformity with the subset oftokens to which the final token belongs with the subset or subsets ofthe tokens held by each player.

According to preferred feature of the invention on the final token beingfrom a different subset to the subset or subsets of the tokens held bythe player the dealer is determined as the winner and otherwise theplayer being determined as the winner. According to preferred feature ofthe invention the comparison with the final token is also conducted inrelation to the subset and hierarchy of the final token having a rankinglower than the token held by the player of the same subset as of thefinal token the player is determined as the winner and otherwise thedealer being determined as the winner.

According to preferred feature of the invention the game requires aminimum of one player.

According to preferred feature of the invention the first number is thenumber 4.

According to preferred feature of the invention the second numbercomprises the number 13. According to preferred feature of the inventionthe third number comprises the number 5. According to preferred featureof the invention the fourth number comprises the number 3 or less.

According to preferred feature of the invention the tokens comprise aset of conventional playing cards and the sub-sets comprising the suitsof a conventional set of playing cards. According to preferred featureof the invention the winning hands are those defined as winning handsaccording to the rules of the card game Poker or derivatives of the cardgame Poker.

According to a further aspect the invention resides in a game apparatusfor playing a game of the form as described above wherein the gameapparatus comprises a player display adapted to provide a displayrepresentative of the tokens delivered to the player by the dealer andthe final token, the apparatus further comprising a player control meanswhich is adapted to be operated by a player and a dealer control meansadapted to be controlled by a dealer to provide the display at theplayer display representative of the collection of tokens and of thefinal token and the player control adapted to enable the player todiscard the representation of some of the tokens displayed.

According to preferred feature of the invention the game the controlmeans includes an insertion means capable of accepting a value tokenwherein the game is activated by a player inserting a value token intothe insertion means which shall be taken as the wager. According topreferred feature of the invention the value token comprises an elementof representative of monetary currency. According to preferred featureof the invention the game apparatus comprises a plurality of playerstations each having a player display. According to preferred feature ofthe invention a second display is provided at each player station atwhich the player can display the magnitude of the wager. According topreferred feature of the invention the dealer station is controlled by adealer.

According to preferred feature of the invention the assessment of thesuccess of the player on receiving the collection of tokens and/or onthe final token being displayed is assessed by the dealer. According topreferred feature of the invention the assessment of the success of theplayer on receiving the collection of tokens and/or on the final tokenbeing displayed is assessed by the dealer control means.

According to preferred feature of the invention the game apparatus isoperated electronically and incorporates a processing means. Accordingto preferred feature of the invention the dealer station is controlledby a computer program.

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of thefollowing description of several specific embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an electronic gaming device of the type that may be used tofacilitate the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a gaming table of the type that may be used to facilitate alive embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows multiple display screens depicting various winning hands;

FIG. 4 shows a display screen depicting an initial player hand, holdhand and various outcomes based on different exposed independent cards(i.e., dealer cards);

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart detailing one playing card embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart detailing another playing cardembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments FIG. 2 illustrates thelayout of a gaming table for use in playing the card game in accordancewith the first embodiment.

The first embodiment of the card game described is played with astandard deck of 52 cards. A table (200) is provided which includes adealer location (202) and a plurality of player locations (204). Infront of each of the player locations (204) is provided a card placementarea (206) and a wager area (208). Each hand of the card game isinitiated by each player placing an initial wager into the wager area(208). The amount of the initial wager will be set between a predefinedminimum and maximum for the table. The embodiment of the game describedis based on poker and therefore following placement of the initialwager, the dealer deals each of the players 5 cards, which are placedface down in the card placement areas (206). Each player examines theirhand and determines if the hand is either a winning hand, a non-winninghand or an unplayable hand.

A winning hand is defined to be one of a plurality of predefined hands.As the embodiment described is based on poker, the predefined hands areknown poker hands.

In this case a winning hand is a poker hand of Two Pair or higher. Ifthe player determines that their hand is a winning hand, that playerdeclares their hand a winning hand and places the hand face down in thecard placement area (206).

An unplayable hand is defined to be a hand which comprises a Two, aThree, a Four, a Five (all of the same suit) and another Two. This handis defined as. unplayable as there is no possibility of winning withthese cards, as will become evident. The player declares their hand anunplayable hand and places the hand face down in the card placement area(206).

A non-winning hand is defined to be any hand which is not a winning orunplayable hand.

Any player that declares their hand to be a non-winning hand nowdiscards 2, 3 or 4 cards from their hand so that they retain no morethan one card from any one suit. That is, no more than 3 cards can beheld. The discarded cards are placed faced down on the table (210). Thecards that have been held will be referred to as the hold hand. The holdhand is placed in the card placement area (206).

The dealer then exposes any declared winning hand and pays the player,based on their initial wager, according to predefined odds for eachwinning hand. The following table sets out predefined odds for winninghands which would be suitable for playing the game. Type of Hand Oddsfor Payout Two Pair 1 to 1 Three of a Kind 1 to 1 Straight 2 to 1 Flush4 to 1 Full House 5 to 1 Four of a Kind 20 to 1 Straight Flush 50 to 1Royal Flush 200 to 1 Variations to the above odds or predefined payoutamounts are deemed appropriate.

The dealer then exposes any declared unplayable hand and returns theplayer's initial wager.

If any player declares a winning hand that is not a winning hand or anunplayable hand that is not an unplayable hand, that player forfeitstheir initial wager.

The dealer then exposes the hand of any player who has a hold hand anddeals a sixth card to each of those players. If the sixth card is thesame suit as one of the cards of the player's hold hand and less invalue than that card, then the dealer pays that player an amount basedon their initial wager and predefined odds for the held hand. In oneembodiment, the player is simply paid an amount equal to the initialwager. In a further embodiment, the player is paid at odds based on thenumber of cards in the hold hand.

The player loses their initial wager if the sixth card is either of adifferent suit to the cards of the hold hand, or of the same suit as oneof the cards of the hold hand but higher in value than said card. Itwill be appreciated that while the dealer may deal a separate card toeach player which acts as the sixth card for that player, the dealer mayalso deal a single card which is to act as the sixth card for everyplayer.

If at any point, the dealer deals cards incorrectly or exposes dealtcards, the dealer will declare the hands void and the round will becancelled.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart 200 detailing one playing card embodiment ofthe present invention. At 205, players place wagers. At 210, each playeris dealt five cards. At 215, players declare their hand a winning hand,non-winning hand or unplayable hand. At 220, a hand is declared awinning hand and, at 225, players holding a declared winning handreceive a payout based on the poker rank of the winning hand. At 230, ahand is declared an unplayable hand and, at 235, players holding adeclared unplayable hand receive their wager back. At 240, a hand isdeclared non-winning and, at 245, players holding a declared non-winninghand discard 2, 3 or 4 cards such that the player holds no more thanthree cards and no more than one card of any suit. At 250, a sixth cardis dealt. The sixth card may be dealt to each player holding anon-winning hand or a single sixth card may be used for all playersholding a non-winning hand. At 255, the sixth card is compared to thecards held from each non-winning hand. At 260, if the sixth card is ofthe same suit as one of the cards held from a non-winning hand and rankslower than the card of the same suit in the player's hand, at 265, thehand is deemed a winning hand and, at 270, a payout is made to theplayer. If not, at 275, the hand is deemed a losing hand and, at 280,the player's wager is collected.

There are many variation of games that may be played within the scope ofthe present invention. The following variations shall be described in amanner that should enable those skilled in the art to appreciate theexpanded scope of play available, rather than considering any singledescribed method as limiting the intended scope of the game.

A second embodiment of the card game according to the invention isplayed with a standard deck of 52 cards. Each hand of the card game isinitiated by each player placing an initial wager. The dealer deals eachof the players 5 cards, which the player examines to determine if thathand is a winning hand.

A winning hand is defined to be one of a plurality of predefined hands,the following hands would be deemed appropriate.

5 cards same suit.

5 cards same suit in numerical order.

5 cards same suit Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.

5 cards-Unplayable (that is 5 cards that have no chance of winningwithin this embodiment of the present invention).

If the player determines that their hand is a winning hand, that playerdeclares their hand a winning hand and places the hand face down in thecard placement area.

A non-winning hand is defined to be any hand which is not a winninghand.

Any player that determines their hand to be a non-winning hand, nowdiscards 2, 3, or 4 cards from their hand so they retain no more thanone card from any one suit. That is no more than 3 cards can be held.The discarded cards would be removed from the table by the dealer.

The dealer then exposes any declared winning hands and pays the playerbased on the following chart. Same Suit $100.00 Unplayable $1000.00 SameSuit/Numerical Order $10,000.00 Same Suit/Ten, Jack, Queen, King,$100,000.00 Ace Variations to the above set amounts or predefinedpayouts at odds are deemed appropriate.

After payment, players with winning hands will be given the option tocontinue or stand off their initial wager. Any winning hand would becomea special 5 card hold hand.

In the embodiment, players with non-winning hands will have the optionof placing an additional wager equal to the amount of their initialwager before their hold hand is exposed.

The dealer then exposes the hand of any player who has a hold hand anddeals a sixth card to each of those players. If the sixth card is thesame suit as one of the cards of the players hold hand and less in valuethan that card, then the dealer pays that player an amount based ontheir initial wager and predefined odds for the held hand.

One Suitable set of payout odds is as follows, Hold hand of 5 cards—5 to1.

Hold hand of 3 cards—1 to 1.

Hold hand of 2 cards—3 to 2.

Hold hand of 1 card—2 to 1.

Any additional wagers would be paid at the same odds as the initialwagers.

The player loses their initial wager and any additional wager if thesixth card is either of a different suit to the cards of the hold hand,or of the same suit as one of the cards of the hold hand but higher invalue than said card.

A third embodiment of the invention comprises a card game played with 2or more mixed standard decks of cards preferably 4 decks of standard 52cards.

Each hand of the card game is initiated by each player placing aninitial wager.

The dealer deals each of the players 3 cards face up with the playerbeing able to declare their 3 card hand a winning hand.

A winning hand is defined to be one of a plurality of predefined hands.As the embodiment described is based on poker, the predefined hands areknown poker hands.

In this case a winning hand is a poker hand of one pair or higher.According to the hierarchy of 3 card poker hand rankings, payout at oddswould be paid for the different standing of the ranked hands.

After payment of winning hands, all players would still be participatingin the game. Players would now have the option of placing an additionalwager equal to the initial wager.

The dealer deals a fourth card face up to each player. If the fourthcard is the same suit as one of the cards of the players hand and lessin value than that card, then the dealer pays that player an amountequal to the initial wager and any additional wager.

The player loses their initial wager and any additional wager if thefourth card is either of a different suit to the cards of the player'shand, or of the same suit as one of the cards of the player's hand buthigher in value than said card.

With 4 decks of cards the fourth card dealt by the dealer to theplayer's hand, may be of the same suit and value as one of the cards ofthe players' hand. In this event the dealer would pay the player anamount according to predefined odds and based on the player's initialwager and any additional wager.

A fourth embodiment comprises a electronic game version of the presentinvention wherein the tokens claimed are represented by a standard deckof playing cards with reference to FIG. 1.

On placement of a wager (117) varying values are optional by engagingthe wager button (118) the display screen (105) will display the initialamount wagered (113) by the player.

The display screen (105) will display the five cards (106, 107, 108,109, 110) dealt as the players hand, face up and the one card (111)dealt as the dealers card, face down.

The initial players cards constitutes one of a predetermined automaticwinning predefined hand (102) as displayed on the payout chart (102),the internal controller (101) will execute an automatic payout at theodds displayed on the predefined hands payout chart (102) and the gamewill be over.

The initial players cards constitutes a non-winning hand the internalcontroller (101) will automatically hold one, two or three cards of theplayers cards to maximize the advantage for the player.

The player has the option to alter any decision by engaging the holdbuttons (120, 121, 122, 123, 124).

The player has the option of an additional wager by engaging theadditional wager button (118) equal to the value of the initial wager(113). The additional wager will be displayed (114).

The player engages the deal button (119) whereby the players hold handof one, two or three cards will remain displayed on the display screen(105). The dealers card (111) is revealed resolving the result of a winor loss for the players hand as determined by the present invention.

Credits will be paid out (116) to the players credits (115) at the oddsas indicated (103) by the internal controller (101) then the game willbe over.

On activation of the cash out button (125) the internal controller willdispense into a tray (126) monetary value equal to the players credits(115) There are a number of advantages of the present invention. Thewagering structure of singular wagers with additional wagers when theplayer is in a commanding position is most attractive to all players.Players participate most of the time to the end of each game therebykeeping their interest and participation concentrated on the game.

A fifth embodiment comprises a game whereby cards having the same suitare added to generate a hand total which is then compared to otherplayers or dealer depending on the game type. Cards of other suits arenot considered. Thus, rather than the method described above, in thisembodiment, players are seeking cards of the same suit which, assumingthe player, is able to collect three cards of the same suit, the valuesof the same-suited cards are added together to determine a total. It isthe value totals which are compared between the players in a player v.player embodiment or between players and dealer in a player v. dealerembodiment. In one embodiment, card values are synonymous with valuesused in the popular game of blackjack wherein Aces are valued at 11,face cards are valued at 10 and all other cards are valued at theirnumerical rank. In another embodiment, a Baccarat scoring system is usedto value hands. In one embodiment, at least three cards in the players'hand and dealer's hand must be of the same suit in order for the hand tobe playable. If three or more of the cards are of the same suit, thevalues of the cards are aggregated to reach a hand total. In a player v.player embodiment, the player with the highest hand total wins the game.In a player v. dealer embodiment, each player's hand total is comparedto the dealer's hand total to determine individual winners. If a playerdoes not collect at least three cards of the same suit, the player loseshis or her wager(s).

In one specific embodiment utilizing the card aggregation of values, aHold'em type game is played. FIG. 6 shows a flow chart 200 detailingsuch a method. At 205, each card is dealt two hole cards. At 210, afirst wagering round is conducted. At 215, three flop cards are dealt.At 220, a second wagering round is conducted. At 225, a river card isdealt. At 230, a third wagering round is conducted. At 235, a finalriver card is dealt. At 240, a fourth and final betting round isconducted. At 245, players remaining in the hand (i.e., have notfolded), compare cards wherein each player identifies at least threecards, formed of hole cards and/or common cards) of the same suit andaggregates the value of the same. At 250, the player with the highestpoint value is declared the winner. The best poker hand may also be partof the game as well. For example, a player may have to hold the handwith the highest value and best poker hand. Similar Hold-em type gamesmay be played at a live gaming table whereby players play against adealer. In addition, the game may be played with two or more same-suitedcards rather than three. Games according this embodiment may also bedealt and wagering upon in the manner of Omaha and Stud Poker and may infact utilize any dealing and wagering procedures attractive to casinosand players.

Such an embodiment of the game may also be played as a side or bonusgame in any card game utilizing three or more cards (whether hole cardsor common cards) whereby any players obtaining two or more cards of thesame suit add the values with the player having the highest value withthe side or bonus bet.

Casinos who install games with reasonable house percentages and highhand win rates find increasing player appeal and participation.

It will be appreciated that the games could also be played by othermeans, such as electronic gaming machines or via an on-line gamingwebsites.

The capabilities of technology are constantly expanding, and theimprovements in technology should not be considered to avoid theunderlining invention. For example player monitoring systems, securitysystems, integrated systems where shuffles identify the number of cardsand/or identify the specific cards and their positions in the play ofthe game are contemplated in the practice of the present invention. Itis possible to incorporate some degree or nearly an entire electronicsystem into the game table or into the play of the game. Such partial orcomplete electronic systems may perform such tasks as identifying theexistence of a wager and/or may provide virtual cards from anelectronically stored deck of cards.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention neednot be limited to the particular scope of the embodiments describedabove and in particular need not be limited to circumstances where thetokens used in the game comprise conventional playing cards orrepresentations of conventional playing cards. All the examples,modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addresseeare deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

1. A method of conducting a card game comprising: providing each playerwith one or more hole cards from one or more standard decks of playingcards; providing one or more common cards; allowing one or more wagersto be placed; comparing a hand, formed of said hole cards and commoncards, for each player and/or a dealer wherein said comparison comprisesaggregating a value associated with multiple same-suited cards in eachplayer's and/or a dealer's hand; and declaring a winner as the playerand/or dealer holding a hand with the highest aggregate hand value. 2.The method of claim 1 further comprising providing two hole cards. 3.The method of claim 1 further comprising providing five common cards. 4.The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing multiple wageringrounds after each one or more sets of common cards is provided.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising comparing each player's hands to adealer hand.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising each player'shand to each other player's hand.
 7. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising comparing a hand, formed of said hole cards and common cards,for each player and/or a dealer wherein said comparison comprisesaggregating a value associated with three or more same-suited cards ineach player's and/or a dealer's hand.
 8. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising generating hand values using a Blackjack card value system.9. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating hand values usinga Baccarat card value system.
 10. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising utilizing a live dealer.
 11. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising utilizing an electronic gaming device.
 12. A method ofconducting a card game comprising: providing each player with twoplaying cards from one or more standard decks of playing cards;conducting a first wagering round; providing a set of common flop cards;conducting a second wagering round; providing a common turn card;conducting a third wagering round; providing a common river card;conducting a fourth wagering round; comparing a hand, formed of saidhole cards and common cards, for each player to other player handswherein said comparison comprises aggregating a value associated withthree or more same-suited cards in each player's hand; and declaring awinner as the player holding a hand with the highest aggregate handvalue.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising generating handvalues using a Blackjack card value system.
 14. The method of claim 12further comprising generating hand values using a Baccarat card valuesystem.
 15. The method of claim 12 further comprising utilizing a livedealer.
 16. The method of claim 12 further comprising utilizing anelectronic gaming device.